As the DGE I have fulfilled my requirements regarding the GSAED general elections. There were, unfortunately, errors which brought us to the present situation at hand. I have agreed to already re-contest the Senate Science election and to make it as accessible as possible.

My main concern to your inquiry is the accessibility to resources to implement the decision, as these resources will have to be secured first by GSAED.

Graduate students will be notified prior and during the elections, as was done for the 19-21 March elections. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure that students are aware of the new election within the constraints I am facing at the moment.

As stated in the By-Law XXII, this decision will result in the opening of a 48-hour appeal period. If an appeal were to be made you must inform the Chair of the GSAED who heads the Election Appeals Committee. The said committee will than meet and make a decision regarding the matter.

Thank you for confirming that Senate-Sciences election will be redone.

I want to draw your attention to GSAED By-law XXII (10)(b) about “Voting” in elections administered by GSAED:

b. Voting shall take place over three consecutive days on the main campus. Voting shall also take place on at least two of these three days at the Roger Guindon campus. The CRO may also decide to permit voting by mail or electronic means. [emphasis added]

and to GSAED By-law XXII (10)(c):

c. Polling stations shall be open from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. each day of the general election or referendum. They shall be located at the Association office throughout the voting period, as well as at least three other locations determined by the CRO, after consultation with Council, including one polling station on the Roger Guindon campus. [emphasis added]

Please confirm that the re-election for the Senate-Sciences seat will conform to By-law XXII, and that there will be 1) A polling location at Roger-Guindon for two of the three days, and 2) two polling locations (other than the GSAED office) on the main campus (one of which most definitely must be SITE, given the Faculties implicated in this election).

If these By-laws are not followed, then the re-election will be fatally flawed, and I will be significantly disadvantaged, in part because I have dedicated rougly 30-50% of my campaigning time to the Roger-Guindon campus in the original election of March 19-21.

Sincerely,
Joseph Hickey

Cc: GSAED Council members, UofO VP Governance and President, concerned community members